I’m sure, in your internet wanderings, that you’ve checked out Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, or at least heard about them by now. You’ve probably backed at least one campaign. Every week thousands of new projects are launched through these websites, and many creators have found that this is a great way to bypass the regular publication/distribution model, to get their projects directly into the hands of their fans.
It really is a bold new era, where creators come to you directly with their wares, and properties sink or swim based on the whims of the fans instead of editorial edicts and profit margins.
But seriously, crowd funding has been a game changer in its few years as a viable publication model, allowing many projects that wouldn’t necessarily have seen the light of day come to life because of fans like you. In a lot of ways it has become THE new distribution system, getting unique product directly into the hands of the consumer. Now, there are so many different campaigns being launched on a weekly basis, with a little something for everybody. But where do you start?
Let us be your guide to the thrilling world of crowd funded comics, art books, film, and associated geek and sundry. Each week we’ll scour the aforementioned websites, and profile those projects that we feel are worthy of your Paypal fees. Those projects that are offering something different than what you get at your local comic shop. Projects that defy classification, ones with interesting backer rewards, books that you might love, but would otherwise probably not happen without your support. Plus, you get cool stuff!
We start out this week with Boss Fight Studios’ Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. action figures.
“We believe that action figures are meant to be played with. If it doesn’t move, then it’s a statue. That’s why Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. figures are designed with poseability as a priority. Our 4″ base figure features at least 17 points of articulation, all with an excellent range of motion. Although Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. action figures come fully assembled in the package, they’re designed to be a customizer’s dream come true. Want to give your Spartan some custom painted armor or sculpt gauntlets on your Gorgon? No problem! Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. figures are made to disassemble with minimal effort for easy customizing, yet hold together during posing and display.”
The Highly Articulated Character Kit System has been designed by Boss Fight Studios as the ultimate action figure line, a series of hyper-poseable figures with incredibly detailed sculpts. Created for the utmost in playability, customizeability, and interchangeability, these figures are, plainly speaking, pretty awesome! Boss Fight Studios, comprised of three designers and two sculptors, has decades under their collective belt working on such properties as GI Joe, Marvel, Star Wars, and many more of your favorites.
The theme for the first series is Greek Warriors vs. Gorgons, something I haven’t seen in figure form since the Clash of the Titans line in the early eighties, and they look fantastic! And they’ve done their research. Each figure comes with period accurate armor and accessories, for an authenticity you can truly appreciate. Each figure comes in on card packaging, harkening back to the halcyon days of action figures. The exclusive figures will come in reusable boxes, with exclusive artwork.
You don’t really need incentive to back this campaign, because toys. BUT, they have some fantastic pledge rewards as well. Limited edition art prints, t-shirts, exclusive figures, a custom head sculpt of your likeness, and even a full production figure with your likeness in a future line of figures can be yours if you support this campaign! It’s already beyond its goal, but they have some pretty impressive stretch goals at the ready, such as a set of blank figures perfect for customizers, so get pledging!
We leave you this week with Arsenic Lullaby: The Devil’s Only Friend.
Truth be told, I’m writing this while wearing my Arsenic Lullaby Voodoo Joe t-shirt, so you know I’m a fan of Douglas Paszkiewicz’s work, but I’m not the only one. Warren Ellis himself has said, “God help me, it made me smile”. This dark look into Douglas’ very soul is hilariously in bad taste, every page and panel worse than the last, but oh so good.
This 64 page, squarebound issue features the return of Voodoo Joe and his zombie fetus army, as he enacts vengeance on behalf of petty people with boring lives. Also returning this issue is Cthulhu, as he attempts to destroy the Earth, only to find we’re already doing a bang-up job ourselves.
Douglas’ particular brand of dark, crude, and downright offensive humor is definitely not for everyone. If you’ve never experienced Arsenic Lullaby, here’s your chance to see what the fuss is all about, for FREE! If it made you laugh out loud, or even just smile, don’t worry, there’s plenty more where that came from.
He uses Kickstarter like an online store, so you’re basically just buying what you want, whether it’s the book itself, stickers, t-shirts, high quality art prints, limited edition blank sketch cover copies, and original artwork. There’s something to offend everyone!
Well, that’s it for this week. See you next Thursday!
